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Water in Bilge
Trying to figure out how I'm getting water in the bilge. Over the past two years of running my 1890 I've noticed more and more water in the bilge at the end of the day. It used to be just a few ounces, which has turned into gallons. Not enough to trip the float switch, but enough that it makes me wonder.
Last week I found that the hull/deck joint was leaking some water through the rubrail. I tested this by spraying the garden hose and pulled the plug. Bought two tubes of Boat LifeSeal and liberally applied in the joint. I also resealed around one of the deck drains.
Took the boat out twice this past weekend and still had a few gallons in the bilge at the end of the day. I was running the livewell both days, so that is my next suspected culprit. However, I have stuck my head in the while it was running and haven't noticed any apparent leaks.I believe all of the drains under the deck lids drained overboard or onto the deck. Any other areas I should check? I leave the plug open and the boat is high and dry before launching, so its not an accumulation of rain water.
Last week I found that the hull/deck joint was leaking some water through the rubrail. I tested this by spraying the garden hose and pulled the plug. Bought two tubes of Boat LifeSeal and liberally applied in the joint. I also resealed around one of the deck drains.
Took the boat out twice this past weekend and still had a few gallons in the bilge at the end of the day. I was running the livewell both days, so that is my next suspected culprit. However, I have stuck my head in the while it was running and haven't noticed any apparent leaks.I believe all of the drains under the deck lids drained overboard or onto the deck. Any other areas I should check? I leave the plug open and the boat is high and dry before launching, so its not an accumulation of rain water.
Replies
Its not a lot of water, but enough to annoy me at the end of the day!
I like the idea about the livewells. I will take a look at those.....Just a note mine was also leaking around the drain of the main livewell. It turned out the 5200 on the inside of the livewell that secures the nut to the threaded drain tube was bad and come loose. Re applied 5200 and no mo leakage.
Dave from Action Craft sometimes browses the forum, if you reading this got any suggestions of areas that are prone to leaking on these models? Thanks.
It appears the sealant used around the rear livewell spray head had disintegrated and was no longer creating a proper seal. Livewell was steadily dripping into the bilge. Pulled the old sealant and resealed with BoatLife Seal. Will report back next trip out.
I also found that both of the outboard sides of the bench seat needed to be resealed. The vertical panel directly behind the deck drains. Heavy rain or when doing a washdown if the water pools around the drain, it leaks through the panel and into the bilge.
I also added hatch seal to the bottom of all hatch lids. This kept water from rain or washdown.
Oh and the biggest problem. The hatch in the engine well isn't watertight. If the angle is steep on your ramp the well fills up with water and floods through that hatch into the bilge. All I got for now.